Scars can form as a result of damage to the skin from scrapes, cuts, burns, skin conditions (such as acne) and surgical incisions.
Here are some tips to help you avoid developing an unsightly scar:
- Keep your wound clean. Rinse your wound gently with a mild soap and water to remove bacteria and debris.
- Keep your wound moist. Apply a nontoxic, moisturizing ointment/lotion/jelly, such as Svedana Labs Scar Defense with PRXi + EGCg, to prevent your wound from drying out and forming a scab. Wounds with scabs take longer to heal. This will also help prevent developing a scar that is very large, deep or itchy.
- Cover your wound with an adhesive bandage or dressing (after completing 1 and 2 above). This will help keep your wound from being exposed to environmental threats, such as UV light from the sun, bacteria and debris. If you have skin that is sensitive to adhesives, try a non-adhesive gauze dressing with paper tape.
- Change your bandage/dressing daily. This will help keep your wound clean while it heals.
- Follow instructions if your wound was repaired with stitches, staples or glue. Follow your health care provider’s advice on how to care for your wound and when to get your stitches or staples removed.
- Apply sunscreen to the your wound after it has healed. Protection from UV light helps reduce dark discoloration and will help your scar fade faster. Always use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply often.